Nippon: Zaibatsu
Economic · Industry / Manufacturing

Nippon: Zaibatsu

Nippon: Zaibatsu is a new edition of Nippon, a fast-paced, area-majority economic game. Players control "zaibatsu": massive conglomerates of interconnected companies driving Japan's economy in the Industrial Revolution e

1–4 players120 minages 12heavy difficulty
About the game

What is Nippon: Zaibatsu

Nippon: Zaibatsu is a new edition of Nippon, a fast-paced, area-majority economic game. Players control "zaibatsu": massive conglomerates of interconnected companies driving Japan's economy in the Industrial Revolution era.

During the game, players invest in new industries, build factories and railroads, and produce goods to saturate local markets and fulfill contracts — all to grow their influence and power and to become rulers of the new modernized country. Players are free to choose their playstyle and winning strategy: They choose what they score victory points for, control the game's pace with income turns, and race each other to get the most beneficial factories, markets, and bonuses.

All the core mechanisms of the original Nippon are present, but the components, art, and design are upgraded, and many gameplay features are reworked to get the game in line with modern trends. Nippon: Zaibatsu features new resource types, ships are heavily revised with new Iwakura mission rules, factories are much more variable, consolidation turns provide players with new rewards, and much more. Also, the game now has an automa-driven solo mode.

—description from the publisher

Specs

Game details

Players
1–4
Age
+12
Duration
120 min
Difficulty
Heavy
Type
Board game
Year
2026
Mechanics
Area Majority / Influence · Contracts · End Game Bonuses
Categories
Economic · Industry / Manufacturing
Designer
Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro
Publisher
Maldito Games
Community data

Nippon: Zaibatsu on Meeplay

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90Plays logged
31Own it in their collection
0.8Average rating
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Reviews

What the community says about Nippon: Zaibatsu

Argente
Argente9/10
1-4 players Abril 2026
FAQ

Everything about Nippon: Zaibatsu

How many players is Nippon: Zaibatsu for?

Nippon: Zaibatsu plays with 1–4 players.

How long does a game take?

A game takes about 120 minutes.

What age is it suitable for?

It is recommended from age 12.

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